Automobile bumper



W. E. HART AUTOMOBILE BUMPER Original Filed Oct. '7, 1927 INVENTORWfffam Z.' fia/ff.

ATTORN EY Patented Ang. 28, 1,9228.

UNITED STATES 1,682,507 PATENT OFFICE."

WILLIAM E. BART, OF SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA.

AUTOMOBILE BUMPER.

Original application led October 7, 1927, Serial No. 224,662. Patent No.1,670,963, dated Hay 22, 1928.

Divided and this application led March 24, 1928. Serial No. 264,381.

The invention generally relates to bumpers designed to protect vehiclesagainst damage in collision, and more particularly to that type of suchbumpers which provide for yieldably resisting obstructions when engagedin certain directions and to freely yield to obstructions engaged inother directions to prevent interlockin with said obstructions andbreakage of said umpers.

In its more detailed nature the invention resides in the provision of anovel bum er structure of the particular type stated which comprises amodification of the generic structure disclosed in my Patent No.1,670,963, granted May 22, 1928, on an a plication filed October 7,1927, Serial Number 224,662 of which parent application thispresent-application forms a division. Y

With the above and other objects in view, the invention further residesin the novel details of construction, combination and arrangement ofparts, all of which will be first fully described in the followingdetailed description, then be particularly pointed out in l the appendedclaims, reference being had to the accompanying drawin in Which:

Figure 1 is a. somewhat 'agrammatic plan view of the rear end of anautomobile equipped with my improved bumper structure.

Figure 2 is a face view of the bumper.

Figure 3 is an inside side elevation of the bumper.

In the practical development of the invention I provide a bracket 1adapted to be secured as at 2 to the chassis/hinge 3. The bracket 1 hasa. mountinghead 4 hingedly mounted thereon as 'at 5 and equipped with anextension leg or stop 6 adapted to lie against the bracket when theparts are in the normal position illustrated in full lines in Figure 1to prevent hinge movement of the head 4in an outward direction. Theextension leg or stop 6 and the bracket 1 are provided with registeringapertures 7 to receive the s rin bolt equipment 8 which serves to yiedab y hold the hinged head 4 to the normal position illustrated in fulllines in Figure 1 of the drawing.

In the head 4 a one-piece bumper member 9 is adjustably secured as at10.' It will be observed by reference to Figure 1 of the drawing thatthe bumper member is shaped substantially like the numeral 6, thusproviding opposed reverselyn bowed/resilient portions.

One of said portions is extended laterally toward the outer side `of theautomobile while the other has an inturned loop portion to slidablyengage the first mentioned bowed portlon when the said bumper is activein taking up shocks due to collision. AThe bumper member is preferablyshaped from a single length of resilient metal. The point at which thereversely bowed bumper members slidably engage is indicated at 11.

By providing the simple one-way hinge means of mounting the bumper thesaid bumper is relatively rigid a ainst obstructions from the rear butyielable when obstructed in other directions as indicated by dottedlines in the said Figure 1.

In the foregoing description I have disclosed a particularly simple andcompact bumper structure which will very efficiently function to protectthe vehicle on which it is mounted from impact due to collision met within the usual manner but which is yieldable or free to move and overcometendencies to interlock with obstructions engaged in unusual ways.

What I claim is: i

1. In bumpers, a bumper member, and a mounting bracket therefor, saidmounting bracket comprising a main bracket member and an auxiliary'bracket member hinged thereto and having an abutment portion to engagethe main bracket member and prevent hinge action in one direction, andspring connections adapted to yieldably hold the said main bracketmember and auxiliary bracket Iiember in engagement for the purposespeci- 2. In bumpers, a bumper. member, and a'.

mounting bracket therefor, said mounting bracket comprising a mainbracket member and an auxiliary bracket member hinged thereto and havingan abutment portion to engage t-he main bracket member and prevent hingeaction in one direction, and spring connections adapted to yieldablyhold the said main bracket member and auxiliary bracket member inengagement, said bumper member comprising reversely bowed opposedresilient lengths oined at one end and having slidable engagement onewith the other at their other ends, and means to secure one of saidresilient lengths upon the auxiliary bracket.

3. In bumpers, a bumper member, and a mounting bracket therefor, saidmounting bracket comprising a main bracket member and an auxiliarybracket member hinged thereto and having an abutment portion to engagethe main bracket member and prevent hinge action in one direction,spring connections adapted to yieldably hold the said main bracketmember and auxiliary bracket member in engagement, said bumpercomprising a single piece of resilient metal bent substantially in theshape of the numeral 6 forming an extended loop end and a looped-in endslidably enga ing the portion from which said extendeddoop extends, andmeans to secure the bumper to move Withthe auxiliary bracket.

4. In bumpers, a bumper member, and a mounting bracket therefor, saidmounting bracket comprising a main bracket and an auxiliary brackethinged to said main bracket and forming a lon itudinal extensionthereof, said auxiliary racket having a stop to lie along the mainbracket and prevent hinge movement of said auxiliary bracket in an out-Ward direction, and said main bracket and said stop havin registeringapertures, a bolt loosely mounte in the apertures and having endabutments, and a spring interposed between a bolt abutment and the stopto hold the auxiliary bracket in the normal position. 5. In bumpers, abumper member, and a mounting bracket therefor, said mounting bracketcomprising a main bracket and an auxiliary bracket hinged to said mainbracket and forming a longitudinal extension thereof, said auxiliarybracket having a stop to lic along the main bracket and prevent hingemovement of said auxiliary bracket in an outward direction, and saidmain bracket and said stop having registering apertures, a bolt looselymounted in the apertures and having end abutments, and a springinterposed between a bolt abutment and the stop to hold the auxiliarybracket in the normal position, said bumper comprising a single piece ofresilient metal bent substantially in the shape of the numeral 6 formingan extended loop end and a looped-in end slidably engaging the portionfrom which said extended loop extends, and means to secure the bumper tomove With-the auxiliary bracket.

WILLIAM E. HART.

